Tool holder

ABSTRACT

A combination is disclosed. In at least one embodiment, the combination includes a suspension bar, a tool holder adapted for attachment to the suspension bar, a hook device for suspending an object and a fastening device which enables the hook device to be releasably attached to the suspension bar. In at least one embodiment, the fastening device includes a first and a second portion for retaining engagement with the web of the suspension bar and its respective flanges. The first portion forms the upper portion of the fastening device, when mounted, to which portion the hook device is fixedly attached either directly or indirectly. The second portion of the fastening device is pivotally attached to the first portion by way of a joint, which, with the tool holder in its mounted state, is oriented parallel with and located between the flanges of the suspension bar.

This is a National Phase of PCT Patent Application No.PCT/EP2009/000949, filed on Feb, 11, 2009, which claims priority under35 U.S.C. §119 to Sweden Patent Application No. 0800319-6, filed on Feb.13, 2008, and claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 and/or 120 to U.S.Provisional Application No. 61/064,058, filed on Feb. 13, 2008, thecontents of each of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference intheir entirety.

The present invention relates to a tool holder adapted for attachment toa suspension bar, which comprises a web and at either edge thereof aflange that is bent towards the central part of the web, comprising ahook means or the like for suspending a tool, a piece of sportsequipment or another object, and a fastening device which enables thehook means to be releasably attached to the suspension bar.

More specifically, the invention relates to a garage concept, i.e. asystem for suspending various objects from the walls of a storage space,such as a garage, so as to interfere with the floor space as little aspossible. One or more suspension bars are screwed to the wall(s) of thestorage space in a horizontal position and the objects are suspendedfrom the wall by means of hooks or other suspension devices attached tothe suspension bar. Alternatively, the suspension bars may be(releasably) attached to vertically oriented columns or hang standards.Suspension bars that are suitable for use with the present invention canbe found in the Ella brochure “inspirerande idéer för välordnad vardag”(Inspiring ideas to help you organize your everyday life) and “TheContainer Store”.

The brochure “Rubbermaid, Fast Track Garage System” shows an example ofsuch a system. The system comprises a suspension bar consisting of a weband a pair of arc-shaped flanges that extend away from the web. Aplastic rail cover is slipped onto the horizontally mounted suspensionbar. Metal or plastic fastening devices having different hookarrangements can be attached to the suspension bar at any desiredposition by hooking the top portion of the fastening device onto theupper flange of the suspension bar, on top of the plastic rail cover,and then vigorously forcing the bottom portion of the fastening devicepast the upper flange of the suspension bar. Not only is a considerableforce required to mount and dismount the hook arrangements, they alsorequire a special type of suspension bar with out-turned flanges.

The object of the invention is to provide a tool holder having a hookmeans of any optional type for suspending various objects, includingheavy and large objects.

A further object is to provide a tool holder which is easy to mount onand dismount from a suspension bar with only one hand.

Yet another object is to provide a tool holder which is fixedly attachedto a suspension bar in a safe manner.

According to the invention, these objects are achieved by a tool holderas described by way of introduction, which is characterised in that thefastening device comprises a first and a second portion for retainingengagement with the web of the suspension bar and its respectiveflanges, that the first portion forms the upper portion of the fasteningdevice when mounted, to which portion the hook means is fixedly attachedeither directly or indirectly, and that the second portion of thefastening device is pivotally attached to the first portion by means ofa joint, which, with the tool holder in its mounted state, is orientedparallel with and located between the flanges of the suspension bar.

Further developments of the invention will be apparent from the featuresstated in the dependent claims.

Preferred embodiments of the invention will be described below by way ofexample and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating the attachment of anembodiment of the tool holder according to the invention to a suspensionbar;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the tool holder in FIG. 1 when fixedlyattached to the suspension bar;

FIG. 3 is a partial side view of the tool holder in FIG. 2 when fixedlyattached to the suspension bar;

FIG. 4 is a partial side view illustrating the construction of the toolholder in FIGS. 1-3;

FIG. 5 is a partial side view of the tool holder with an alternativelocking device;

FIG. 6 is a partial perspective view illustrating another embodiment ofthe tool holder according to the invention, when fixedly attached to asuspension bar;

FIG. 7 is a partial side view of the tool holder in FIG. 6 when fixedlyattached to the suspension bar;

FIG. 8 is a partial perspective view illustrating the construction ofthe tool holder in FIGS. 6-7;

FIG. 9 is a partial perspective view of an alternative embodiment of atool holder according to FIGS. 6-8;

FIGS. 10-13 illustrate a further embodiment of the tool holder (withouthook means) according to the invention and the different steps formounting it on a suspension bar;

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of a toolholder (without hook means) according to FIGS. 10-13;

FIG. 15 is a perspective view of the tool holder in FIG. 14 when fixedlyattached to a suspension bar;

FIG. 16 is a side view of the tool holder in FIGS. 14-15 when fixedlyattached to a suspension bar; and

FIG. 17 is a scaled-down perspective view illustrating the tool holderaccording to FIGS. 10-12 or, alternatively, FIGS. 14-16 with the hookmeans, when fixedly attached to a suspension bar.

With reference first to FIGS. 1-4, which show a first embodiment of thetool holder according to the invention, the tool holder comprises afastening device 1, a hook means 2 (cf. FIG. 17) and a locking device 3.The fastening device 1 comprises a first, upper portion 4, to which thehook means 2 of this embodiment is anchored. The fastening device 1further comprises a second, lower portion 5, which is pivotallyconnected to the first portion 4 by means of a joint 6. In thisembodiment, the first portion 4 and the second portion 5 comprise acommon plate with a weak portion or groove forming the joint 6. Thejoint 6 is oriented in the same direction as the suspension bar 7, inwhich the fastening device 1 is to be releasably mounted.

The suspension bar 7, which is adapted to the screwed to a wall viathrough holes 8 or to be attached to vertically oriented columns or hangstandards, comprises a web 9 provided with said holes 8. A first, upperflange 11, which is bent towards the central part or centre of the web 9and at an acute angle thereto, connects onto the upper edge of the web 9and a second, lower flange 12, which is bent towards the central part ofthe web 9 and at an acute angle thereto, connects onto the lower edge ofthe web 9. As is best shown in FIG. 3, the angle and length of the firstflange 11 may be different from the angle and length of the secondflange 12. Alternatively, and as shown in FIG. 7, the flanges 11, 12 mayextend at right angles to the web 9 and may be bent 90 degrees at acertain distance from the web, so that their free edges (cf. the edgeportion 10 in FIG. 5) point towards one another. With the tool holder inits mounted state, the joint 6 is positioned between the flanges 11, 12and is oriented parallel therewith.

Finally, the tool holder comprises a locking device 3, which in theembodiment of the invention according to FIGS. 1-4 consists of a firstlocking element 13 and a second locking element 14. The first lockingelement 13 is a C-shaped section made of elastic material, which isattached to or integrated with the second portion 5 of the fasteningdevice. The second locking element 14 is a section in the form of a bar,which is attached to the hook means 2 and which can be brought intosnapping engagement with the first locking element 13. The lockingelements 13, 14 are preferably elongated and oriented parallel with theflanges 11, 12. Advantageously, the first portion 4. second portion 5and first locking element 13 of the fastening device are made of plasticmaterial.

The embodiment of the tool holder in FIG. 5 is different from the onedescribed above in that it comprises another type of locking device. Inthis embodiment, the first locking element is formed of the outermostedge portion 10 of the second flange 12 and the second locking element14 is formed of an annular, elastic element 15, which has been slippedonto one leg of the hook means 2 (cf. FIG. 6) and which has a downwardlypointed protrusion 16, which, when securing the fastening device 1 tothe suspension bar 7, snaps in under the outermost edge portion 10 ofthe second flange 12 on the inside thereof.

The tool holders according to FIGS. 1-5 are mounted on the suspensionbar 7 in the following manner. The tool holder is moved, inclinedslightly forward, towards the suspension bar in such a manner that thesecond portion 5 of the fastening device can be inserted in the spacebetween the second flange 12 and the web 9 of the suspension bar. Thetool holder is then pressed against the suspension bar such that thefirst portion 4 of the fastening device is introduced in the spacebetween the first flange 11 and the web 9 of the suspension bar.Finally, the tool holder is vigorously pushed downwards with the aid ofthe hook means, whereby the second locking element 14 snaps into thefirst locking element 13 and firmly secures the tool holder in position;cf. the mounting sequence of FIGS. 10-13. All this can be carried outwith only one hand.

The tool holder is released from the suspension bar by reversing theorder of events of the mounting sequence described above. Because therelease operation is performed by grabbing the hook means (and pushingit upwards) relatively little force is required, despite the fact thatthe tool holder is firmly attached to the suspension bar.

FIGS. 6-8 illustrate another embodiment of the tool holder. In thisembodiment, the first portion 4 of the fastening device 1 is pivotallyconnected to its second portion 5 by means of a hinge joint 6.Furthermore, the suspension bar 7 of this embodiment is different fromthe one illustrated in FIGS. 1-5 in that the first and second flanges11, 12 are not plane and do not form an acute angle with the web 9, butproject from the web at right angles thereto and are bent at rightangles to each other at a distance from the web, as described above. Agroove 17 or, alternatively, a protrusion (not shown) is provided on thehorizontal portion 18 of the second flange 12 and an annular, elasticelement 15 having a boss 19 has been slipped onto one of the legs of thehook means 2. The groove 17 and the boss 19 serve as the first 13 andsecond 14 locking element, respectively, of the locking device 3, theboss 19 snapping into the groove 17 or, alternatively, snapping inbehind said protrusion when securing the fastening device 1 to thesuspension bar 7.

FIG. 9 illustrates an alternative embodiment of the tool holder in FIGS.6-8. The difference between this tool holder and the one in FIGS. 6-8 isthat the first 4 and second 5 portions of the fastening device 1 as wellas the joint 6 are formed in one piece, i.e. they form an integratedunit. The joint 6 is in the form of a tubular section.

Yet another embodiment of the tool holder according to the invention,and a variant thereof, are shown in FIGS. 10-17, and FIGS. 10-13illustrate mounting thereof on the suspension bar described above inconjunction with the tool holders according to FIGS. 1-5. In theseembodiments, the fastening device 1 consists of a body having a lengththat is considerably greater than the width of the web 9 of thesuspension bar 7. The fastening device 1 also has a substantialthickness. The top portion of the fastening device, in its mountedstate, is tapering in shape and serves as said first portion 4 thereof.Preferably, this first portion has a shape that corresponds to the shapeof the space between the first flange 11 and the web 9 of the suspensionbar 7. As shown in FIG. 17, the hook means 2 is attached to the lower,greater portion of the fastening device 1. However, for ease ofillustration, the hook means is not shown in FIGS. 10-16.

Between the first portion 4 of the fastening device and its bottomsurface 21, as seen in its mounted state, a recess 22 is provided whichextends into the fastening device from the inner surface 23 thereof andwhich is oriented parallel with the bottom surface 21 between the sideedges 24 of the fastening device (only one of which is shown in thefigures). The shape of the recess 22 corresponds to the shape of thespace between the second flange 12 and the web 9 of the suspension barplus the thickness of the second flange 12, see FIG. 13 in particular.The lowermost edge of the recess 22 has, at its inner surface 23, anupwardly directed protrusion 25, which serves as the second lockingelement 14 of the locking device, as will be explained below.

With reference to FIG. 14 in particular, the second portion 5 of thefastening device 1 has the shape of a wing, one edge of which in thelongitudinal direction has a partly cylindrical section 26. Preferably,the wing has a tapering shape from the section 26 to its opposite edge27. The wing or second portion 5 of the fastening device is pivotallycarried through its partly cylindrical section 26 in a correspondingrecess 28 provided at the inner wall of the recess 22 and extendingparallel with the bottom surface 21 of the fastening device. Themounting of the tool holder on the suspension bar 7 has been illustratedin FIGS. 10-13 and explained above, and will therefore not be furtherelaborated upon here. However, FIGS. 12-13 will be explained in moredetail. When the fastening device 1 with the hook means (not shown) hasbeen positioned as shown in FIG. 12, the protrusion 25 abuts against theouter surface of the second flange 12 adjacent the web 9, i.e. at thebend 20 of the suspension bar 7. By pushing the hook means 2 downwardsthe protrusion 25 is pressed past the second flange 12 to snap inagainst the web 9, whereby the tool holder is secured to the suspensionbar 7. Thus, the bend 20 of the suspension bar between the web 9 and thesecond flange 12 thereof serves as the first locking element 13 of thelocking device, while the protrusion 25 of the fastening device servesas its second locking element 14.

FIGS. 14-16 illustrate an alternative embodiment of the tool holder inFIGS. 10-13. The difference between the two embodiments is that theprotrusion 25 located at the inner surface 23 of the fastening device inFIGS. 10-13 has been removed and positioned instead in the inner portionof the recess 22, i.e. at a distance from the inner surface 23, andunderneath the groove 28. When mounting the tool holder, and morespecifically at the final stage of the mounting operation correspondingto the mounting step in FIG. 12, the protrusion 25 snaps in over theoutermost edge portion 10 of the second flange 12, whereby the toolholder is secured to the suspension bar, see FIGS. 15 and 16. Thus, theoutermost edge portion 10 serves as the first locking element 13 of thelocking device, while the protrusion 25 serves as its second lockingelement 14.

To allow the tool holder according to the invention to be used alsowithout a suspension bar, the fastening device 1 is provided with a pairof through holes 29 for screwing the tool holder directly onto asupport, such as a wall. Of course, the holes 29 may also be used toattach the tool holder to the suspension bar in a permanent manner.

In the embodiments of the tool holder according to the invention, thefastening device comprises a locking device. This locking device is notabsolutely necessary, however, since the hook means is anchored to thefirst, upper portion of the fastening device, either directly orindirectly. With an object suspended from the hook means and exerting aload thereon, the first and second portions of the fastening device willbe pressed against the web of the suspension bar by the resulting torqueand the tool holder will be attached in a displaceable manner to thesuspension bar. However, the locking device prevents the tool holderfrom disengaging from the rail as a result of an upward pressure or blowto the hook means and also prevents lateral displacement of the toolholder.

The invention is not limited to that described above and shown in thedrawings and can be modified within the scope of the appended claims.For example, it is possible to apply the locking device of oneembodiment of the tool holder to another embodiment of the tool holderin the illustrated working examples of the invention.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A tool holder, comprising: a suspension barincluding a web and at least two flanges, each flange located at an edgeof the web and bent towards a central part of the web; a hook deviceconfigured to suspend at least one of a tool, a piece of sportsequipment and other object configured to be suspended from the hook; anda fastening device configured to enable the hook device to be releasablyattached to the suspension bar, the fastening device including a firstportion and a second portion for retaining engagement with the web ofthe suspension bar and a respective one of the at least two flanges,wherein the first portion forms an upper portion of the fastening devicewhen mounted, the hook device being fixedly attached, either directly orindirectly, to the first portion, the second portion of the fasteningdevice being pivotally attached to the first portion via a joint, thesecond portion having a shape of a wing tapering from an edge where thejoint is formed to an edge opposite the joint which, with the toolholder in a mounted state, and the second portion is oriented parallelwith the suspension bar, the second portion being inserted in thesuspension bar between the web and the one of the at least two flanges,and the edge where the joint is formed has a partly cylindrical sectionfitted into a corresponding first recess in the first portion.
 2. Thetool holder as claimed in claim 1, wherein the fastening device furtherincludes a second recess, extending parallel with said flanges, a shapeof the second recess corresponding to the outer surface of one of the atleast two flanges, the second portion of the fastening device beingpivotally carried in the first recess and including a protrusion, whichin cooperation with a bend of the one of the at least two flangesadjacent the web secures the fastening device to the suspension bar. 3.The tool holder as claimed in claim 1, wherein the fastening deviceincludes a pair of through holes for screwing the tool holder to thesuspension bar or to a wall.
 4. The tool holder as claimed in claim 1,wherein the fastening device is made of plastic material.
 5. The toolholder as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first portion has a shapecorresponding to a space formed between the web and at least one of theflanges.
 6. The tool holder as claimed in claim 1, wherein the firstportion is configured to be accepted in a space formed between the weband at least one of the flanges.
 7. The tool holder as claimed in claim1, wherein the partly cylindrical section and the corresponding firstrecess in the first portion form a hinge.
 8. The tool holder as claimedin claim 2, wherein the fastening device includes a protrusion at anedge of the second recess that fits over the bend of the one of the atleast two flanges when mounted, the bend and the protrusion forming alocking element that secures the fastening device to the suspension bar.9. The tool holder as claimed in claim 2, wherein the fastening deviceincludes a protrusion at an edge of the recess that fits over an edge ofat least one of the flanges.
 10. The tool holder as claimed in claim 1,wherein the suspension bar includes a first locking element and thefastening device includes a second locking element which, when securingthe tool holder to the suspension bar, are brought into snappingengagement with one another.
 11. The tool holder as claimed in claim 10,wherein the second locking element, when attaching the tool holder tothe suspension bar, is in snapping engagement with an outermost edgeportion of the one of the at least two flanges.